Sudanese women's and neonates' vitamin A status

Retinol status and associated factors in mother-newborn pairs

BACKGROUND

Vitamin A deficiency is still considered to be a nutritional problem during pregnancy, lactation and early childhood. The present study aimed to assess the vitamin A status of women and their newborns in the Brazilian Northeast and to determine the association between retinol in the maternal serum, umbilical cord blood and colostrum.

METHODS

Vitamin A status in 65 pairs of women and newborns was assessed from samples of the mother's serum, umbilical cord serum and colostrum using high-performance liquid chromatography. The inadequacy of the vitamin A status of mothers and infants was identified if the retinol values were <0.7 µmol L^- 1 in maternal serum or umbilical cord blood or <1.05 µmol L^-1 in colostrum.

RESULTS

The prevalence of inadequate maternal vitamin A status was 21.5% (95% CI: 11.5%-31.5%) and 13.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.4%-22.2%] based on maternal serum and colostrum, respectively. Among newborns, 41.5% (95% CI = 29.3%-53.5%) presented a low status of vitamin A based on cord serum. Multiple linear regression analysis identified that maternal serum retinol is a predictor of umbilical cord retinol (P = 0.005). Retinol in maternal serum was lower in mothers who were less educated (P = 0.04) and colostrum retinol was higher in older (P = 0.04) and multiparous (P = 0.002) mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin A deficiency is a common problem among mothers attended in public hospitals in Northeast Brazil and maternal retinol concentrations are associated with retinol status in newborns. Maternal age, parity and educational level were related to the maternal vitamin A status.

Vitamin A intake of Brazilian mothers and retinol concentrations in maternal blood, human milk, and the umbilical cord

Objectives To analyse intake of vitamin A (VA) and retinol concentrations in maternal blood, breast milk (BM), and the umbilical cord (UC) of newborns, and to determine the associations among these variables. Methods We performed a cross-sectional, epidemiological study of 180 mother-newborn dyads. Maternal and UC blood samples and BM were collected. VA intake by the mother over 30 days was assessed using a questionnaire. Results Mean retinol concentrations in maternal serum, the UC, and BM were 0.65 ± 0.27, 0.36 ± 0.18, and 2.95 ± 2.70 µmol/L, respectively. Retinol concentrations <0.70 µmol/L were found in 57.2% of maternal blood samples and in 94.9% of UC samples. A total of 27.9% of BM samples showed retinol concentrations <1.05 µmol/L. Mean VA intake by the mothers was 1041.33 ± 1187.86 µg retinol activity equivalents/day and was inadequate (<550 µg retinol activity equivalents/day) in 44.7%. Conclusions High proportions of insufficient retinol concentrations were observed in the UC, maternal blood, and BM. A high percentage of pregnant women had inadequate VA intake. Mothers with insufficient serum retinol concentrations had newborns with lower retinol concentrations in the UC. Higher retinol concentrations were observed in maternal blood and the UC with a higher VA intake.